Week in Review

April 25, 2014
Here is the latest edition of Week In Review - a series of weekly messages from the Mayor and City Council to help Richardson residents and businesses keep up to date on events at City Hall.

Tomorrow is Trash Bash
Richardson residents will come together Saturday to beautify the city by picking up trash and recyclable items at parks and other public spaces at the annual Trash Bash. The event will also include electronics recycling, document shredding, free compost and book and clothing drives. New this year is the opportunity to dispose of expired or unwanted prescription medications. These services will be available starting at 9 a.m. at the City Hall/Civic Center parking lot.

The City will host an after-party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Civic Center that will feature exhibits, refreshments, free plants, door prizes, Richie the Recycling Duck, EPS/Styrofoam recycling and free recycling bags courtesy of the Richardson Environmental Action League. There will be an activity area for children and families near the City Hall fountain, and the area will also feature a bounce house courtesy of YMCA, adoptable animals from the Richardson Animal Shelter, City and DART vehicles on display and Republic recycle bales.

Water Line Repairs Impact Renner Road
Two eastbound lanes of Renner Road between Plano Road and Foxboro Drive remain closed as the City makes repairs to a water valve that has failed and is leaking. Road repairs are anticipated to last until Monday, but metal plates will be used to allow all lanes of traffic to be open during peak travel times.

Richardson water utility workers will close a 20-inch water main at 1 a.m. Sunday on Renner Road just east of Plano Road to make critical repairs. The outage will impact approximately 300 water customers in the area, which is mostly made up of single-family homes and some businesses. Water is anticipated to be turned back on late Sunday afternoon.

Council Reviews Spring Valley Road Rehab Project
West Spring Valley Road is one of six areas in Richardson targeted for redevelopment in the 2009 Comprehensive Plan, and the City has been working closely with Dallas County, the City of Dallas and the North Central Texas Council of Governments to improve the corridor for drivers and pedestrians. Design of the project is about 70 percent complete, and the City expects construction to begin this fall. The City Council received an update on the project at its Monday work session.

The scope of the project has grown since 2010, when the City adopted the West Spring Valley Road Reinvestment Strategy, which outlines the vision and plan for the corridor. The original plan called for pavement repair, upgraded signals and turn lanes at Weatherred Drive, and construction of a culvert at Cottonwood Creek. Now, the project also includes five pedestrian crossings; street light upgrades; additional traffic signal improvements at Waterfall Way, Maham Road and Waterview Drive; and a culvert over the Hunt Branch.

The City of Richardson has committed nearly $1.9 million to the $8.98 million project through the 2006 and 2010 Bond Programs. Dallas County and the NCTCOG have committed additional funds to the project that will cover its expanded scope. The project is expected to be complete in the fall of 2016.

Watch a City Council work session presentation about the project at bit.ly/1lCxNZr.

Celebrate Improvements to Owens Trail This Weekend
The public is invited to celebrate recent landscaping improvements to the Owens Trail from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday along the trail at 1600 E. Collins Blvd. Oncor, North Texas’ regulated electric transmission and distribution service provider, donated $250,000 for the upgrade, which is the first project completed through Oncor’s Texas Trails program.

The free celebration will include healthy snacks, face painting, local vendors, gardening crafts and wildflower seed planting. Oncor representatives will also be at the event to distribute information on its environmental, energy efficiency and centennial programs and offer free giveaways.

The updated section of Owens Trail - like many others in North Texas - winds past Oncor transmission towers and lies within Oncor’s right of way. The improvements are designed to serve as an example for other communities of how Oncor can work with local partners to create landscaped trails if they are constructed within Oncor guidelines. The City of Richardson is responsible for maintaining the improved trail.

The landscaping improvements include plants, rocks, amenities and other features and are strategically located in areas where they are most compatible with transmission towers and lines. Landscaping options are limited in the space immediately surrounding the towers and at certain points between the towers for safety reasons.

Central Trail Nearing Completion
The expansion of the Central Trail is about 90 percent complete, and the City plans to celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting June 2. The 1.9-mile southern expansion connects the 10-foot wide multiuse trail from the Arapaho Road DART Station to Richardson’s southern city limit. A future connection in the City of Dallas is expected to eventually tie it into the White Rock Creek Trail. The $4.5 million project is funded through Dallas County, $1.4 million from the City of Richardson’s 2010 Bond Program and Regional Tollway Revenue funds.

The City is also working to expand the Central Trail half a mile to the north to Richardson’s northern city limit. The existing trail ends at Renner Road, but the expansion will tie in to the CityLine development and eventually connect to the Plano trail system. The $1.8 million northern expansion is funded through Regional Tollway Revenue and the City’s Tax Increment Finance Zone #2. It is expected to be complete in the summer of 2015 and will allow the trail to run from city limit to city limit.

Watch a City Council work session presentation about progress on the Central Trail at bit.ly/1lDwyxu.

Earth Day Supports Recycling in Richardson

In conjunction with Earth Day, the City on Tuesday promoted living green and recycling in the community by allowing residents to pick up a free roll of blue bags at several locations. Recycling Richie, the City’s recycling mascot, also helped hand out blue bags at Springridge Elementary as children left school for the day.

Information about water restrictions, water conservation, recycling and Trash Bash was also available. The City’s goal was to increase awareness of recycling programs offered by the City and to increase the amount of material that is diverted from landfills for recycling. For more information about the City’s recycling programs, visit cor.net/recycling.

Police Department Receives Secure, Take and Lock Signs for Crime Prevention
The Richardson Police Department received 100 Secure, Take and Lock signs on Wednesday from the Insurance Council of Texas and State Farm. The signs were presented at the Richardson Family YMCA and will be used in the police department’s crime prevention efforts.

The Secure, Take and Lock program exists to remind the public not to invite crime by leaving keys or valuables in plain view inside unattended vehicles. Learn more about the program at cor.net/index.aspx?page=320.

Richardson Gymnasts Sign College Offers
Two members of the City of Richardson Gymnastics team signed letters of intent Monday to compete for college teams. Both girls are high school seniors and have competed for the City team at multiple local and national events.

Kate Aberger has accepted a scholarship to Southern Connecticut State University to compete on the gymnastics team. She joined the City team in 2010 and is undefeated in national dance competitions for more than five years. She also has a 4.0 GPA at John Paul II High School and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Courtney Middelkoop will compete for the gymnastics team at Iowa State University. She entered the Richardson gymnastics program at age 4. She qualified to several regional and national championships and earned the opportunity to compete at the NIT National Championships last May. She also has a 4.0 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Senior Center Honors Outstanding Older TexanThe Richardson Senior Center honored Cretora Terzis this week as the Outstanding Older Texan at its annual Volunteer Award Luncheon. A retired periodontal surgical nurse who has lived in Richardson nearly 40 years, Terzis donates her time in the Senior Center kitchen three times a week, averaging 50 hours a month, volunteers at the Eisemann Center on weekends and has a regular Meals on Wheels route. She also embroiders volunteer hats and aprons. She has been married to her husband for 53 years and has five children.

Early Voting for RISD School Board Election Begins Monday
Early voting for the May 10 Richardson ISD Board of Trustees Election is available beginning Monday through May 6 at the Richardson Civic Center/City Hall, 411 W. Arapaho Rd.

Dallas County Richardson residents may vote early at City Hall or any of the other Dallas County early voting locations. Call the Dallas County Elections Department at 214-819-6389 or visit dallascountyvotes.org. Early voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through May 3, 1 to 6 p.m. May 4 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 5 and 6.

Voters are reminded that they are required to show a photo ID at the polls. Election Day voting will take place Saturday, May 10, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the location designated for your precinct. Richardson City Hall is not a voting location on Election Day.

Eisemann Center to Host Several Performances
The Eisemann Center will host several shows in the next week. Debby Boone and the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra will take the stage at 8 p.m. tonight. Tickets cost $39 to $56.

Library to Show “Epic” at Movie Morning
The Richardson Public Library will show “Epic” at a free Movie Morning event from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the First Floor Program Room. “Epic” tells the story of an ongoing battle deep in the forest between the forces of good and evil. For more information, call 972-744-4358.

FOL Spring Book Sale
The Friends of the Library spring book sale will continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Basement Program Room at the Richardson Public Library. For more information, visit richardsonfol.org or call 972-226-2167.

Free Landscaping Basics Class at Texas A&M AgriLife
Learn to create and install a water efficient landscape at a Landscape Basics class from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 17360 Coit Rd. in Dallas. The class is free, but registration is required. For more information, call 972-231-5362 or visit dallas.tamu.edu/courses.

Richardson Animal Shelter Pet of the Week

This is Honey! She is a 7-year-old Chihuahua. She came to us as a stray April 17. She is spayed and fully vaccinated. A very sweet and loving dog. Perfect for curling up in a lap.